The Ascona Group Child of Wales Awards marked its fifth anniversary on Friday 2 October, with 700 guests at Swansea Building Society Arena for a ceremony recognising children and young people from across Wales.
BBC Morning Live presenter Gethin Jones hosted the awards for the fifth consecutive year. Guests included Love Island stars Scott van-der-Sluis, Leanne Amanin and Ciaran Davies, and BBC radio presenters Bronwen Lewis and Justine Jones.
The evening opened with a performance from the Child of Wales Awards Choir. Former Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Lucciano Mortimore, the awards’ first Young Ambassador, then took to the stage with his grandad, Frankie, and mum, Marisa Mortimore.
Eight-year-old Delilah Hill, of Merthyr Tydfil, won the Young Performer award for her dancing, which has seen her compete at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. During the night she received a surprise video message from Strictly Come Dancing stars Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec. Delilah lost her dad when she was six years old and dancing has given her a focus to help channel her grief.
The entertainment culminated with a headline performance from funk and soul band The Brand New Heavies. Awards including Child of Courage, Courageous Family, Young Fundraiser and Bravery were presented through the evening.
The Child of Wales Awards covers every part of Wales and recognises young people who face hardships and challenges, as well as those who champion causes in their communities, protect the environment, care for others and fundraise.
This year’s event is raising funds for Wales Air Ambulance and mental health support charity Big Moose. The awards have previously supported Teenage Cancer Trust, NSPCC, Dreams and Wishes, the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal, Cash for Kids, Joseph’s Smile and 2wish.
The Child of Wales Awards 2026 winners are:
- Child of Courage (13+) – Mia Harris Jones (Cardiff)
- Child of Courage (under 13) – Oliver Waters (Merthyr Tydfil)
- Courageous Family – The Guile Family (Pembrokeshire)
- Exceptional Young Carer – Olivia Hazel Furley (Torfaen)
- Outstanding Charity – The Wallich (Cardiff)
- Young Fundraiser – Cian Evans (Swansea)
- Bravery Award – Oliver Baggott (Pontypool)
- Young Performer – Delilah Hill (Merthyr Tydfil)
- Community Champion – Sophie Howe (Pontyclun)
- Environmental Champion – Sophia Jones (Pontypridd)
- Young Sporting Hero (13+) – Zac Thomas (Swansea)
- Young Sporting Hero (under 13) – Luca Morrillo (Haverfordwest)
- Young Leader – Cathryn Moore (Llandovery)
- Above & Beyond – John Jenkins (Neath)
Blanche Sainsbury, founder and CEO of the Child of Wales Awards, said: “I am incredibly proud that the Child of Wales Awards has reached its fifth anniversary. To bring together 700 people to celebrate the remarkable achievements of children and young people from every corner of Wales is something very special.
“It is a privilege to give these incredible young people a platform and shine a light on all of the amazing things they have done, often in the face of challenges that no child should have to experience. Their resilience, kindness, courage and determination are an inspiration to us all. Along with the young people and their families, I’d like to thank all of our sponsors who help to make this annual event as special as it is.”
Host Gethin Jones said: “It’s very special to be back hosting the Child of Wales Awards for a fifth year. Every year, I’m reminded of just how extraordinary the children and young people of Wales are and the incredible things they achieve, often in the face of huge challenges.
“To see these amazing children recognised and celebrated is a real privilege, and the awards have become such an important and much-loved event in the Welsh calendar. Blanche and Mark Sainsbury have created something truly amazing with the Child of Wales Awards, and it’s fantastic to see how the event has grown over the past five years while keeping its focus firmly on celebrating the courage, determination and achievements of children across Wales.”
Darren Briggs, founder and CEO of Ascona Group, the UK’s seventh-largest independent fuel retailer headquartered in Pembrokeshire, said:
“It was a real pleasure and a source of great pride for Ascona Group, as a proud Welsh business, to return as headline sponsor of the Child of Wales Awards for a second year – and what an exceptional evening it was.
“As a business, we believe in giving back to the communities in which we operate and using our success to make a positive difference. Supporting these awards is a natural part of that.
“I was also particularly pleased to see Wales Air Ambulance benefit from the evening. I was proud to become the charity’s first Business Ambassador for Wales, and Ascona has pledged to raise £1 million for the charity over 10 years. It is a cause that is very close to my heart, so to see the generosity of everyone at the awards helping to support its lifesaving work was incredibly special.”
The 2026 awards were also supported by Welsh businesses including Blue Tiger, Aspiris, Sinclair Group, Swansea City AFC, The Trade Centre Wales, Westacres, Castell Howell, Thomas Carroll, Gower College Swansea, Owens, Swansea Building Society, LBS Business Merchants, Commonwealth Games Wales, Green Hat, Browne Jacobson, JCP Solicitors, BDP Wales, Route, CJCH Solicitors, Acuity Law, MHA, Lunia 3D, Mark Jermin, Cariad Occasions, Simply Elegant, Azets, Bluestone Wales and Ultra Evo Group.
